Coronavirus in Prisons

Audio: Missouri prison system experiences significant drop in COVID-19 cases

In early December, the Missouri Department of Corrections began installing 1,400 air purifying devices and using disinfectant sprayers within the prison system. Since then, department spokesperson Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet the number of coronavirus cases has fallen by 80%. The agency reports 7,612 staff and inmates have been infected with the virus since last spring – 147, or […]

Stop the Human Trafficking

Three arrests for human trafficking in St. Joseph results in rescue of six victims including infant and 2-year-old

A successful human trafficking operation was completed late Friday night at two St. Joseph truck stops – Bucky’s and Love’s Travel Stop.   The joint operation, organized by the St. Joseph Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Missouri Attorney General’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, resulted in 3 arrests, […]

Crossroads Correctional Center V2

Governor Parson proposes converting closed Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron into training facility

The Associated Press reports the closed Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron may be turned into a training academy. A proposal from Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s budget plan includes $671,714 to convert the idle prison in Cameron into an academy that would train correctional officers before they get assigned to one of the state’s 20 prisons. […]

Gangster Disciple Logo

Two leaders of Gangster Disciples sentenced to prison

Two leaders of the national gang the Gangster Disciples were sentenced today for a racketeering conspiracy involving murder. Shauntay Craig, aka Shake, 42, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Craig pleaded guilty in August 2019 to racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug trafficking. Donald Glass, aka Smurf, 30, of Decatur, Georgia, […]

Handcuffs and Key with Arrest graphic

Grundy County Sheriff reports the arrest of two

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Spickard man on a parole violation and a Wyaconda man on a probation violation. Fifty-two-year-old Vance Gannon’s alleged parole violation involved laws, drugs, and reporting and directives. His original charge was assault—second degree. Gannon is to be held on no bond and will be returned […]

Lack of adequate funding has left county taxpayers bearing incarceration costs of state prisoners

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the County Reimbursement Program, which reimburses county governments for certain costs for housing and transporting state prisoners. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The audit found that a combination of delayed reimbursements due to lack of state funding and increasing incarceration […]

Livingston County Sheriff Car

Livingston County Sheriff announces list of inmates ordered to be transferred to the Missouri Department of Corrections

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department received Court orders to cause the following people to be transferred to the Missouri Department of Corrections to serve a sentence or attend a treatment program: Jonathan Meservey, 18, Chillicothe, Fail to register – Felony  4 years  ITP. Justin Martin, 22, Carrollton MO, Possession Controlled Substance,  2 Years. Johnifer Lodge, […]

Crime and Courts

Grundy County, Division One, court news for Thursday, December 10, 2020

Several defendants received a sentence with others receiving probation following appearances Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Trenton resident Christopher James Warren pleaded guilty to felony drug possession/synthetic cannabinoid as of November 20th. Warren was sentenced to five years with the department of corrections. Another charge was dismissed. Polo resident Julie […]

Jeremiah Searles Final

Denver, Missouri man admits murdering woman during court appearance, sentenced to 30-years in prison

A Denver, Missouri man was sentenced December 10th to 30 years in the Department of Corrections on felony murder—second degree. Worth County Prosecuting Attorney Janet Wake Larrison reports 39-year-old Jeremiah Searles was sentenced after pleading guilty to killing Melissa Chapman. A news release says Searles admitted to striking Chapman in the head with part of […]

Coronavirus in Prisons

Missouri Department of Corrections implements technology to cut COVID-19 infection rate within prisons

Implementation of three technological innovations in the Missouri Department of Corrections aims to cut COVID-19 infection rates in Missouri state prisons and other facilities. These strategies: Kill the virus in the air Kill the virus on surfaces Detect the virus in wastewater The department now has ionization generators — air purifying devices that destroy 99.4% […]